gradually 3 antonyms and opposites of gradually. Adverb — Slowly, in small steps over time, rather than all at once. Synonyms for gradually sluggishly step by step bit by bit by degrees by inches continually footmeal inch by inch gradatim little by little momentarily momently one step at a time one by one progressively stepmeal unsuddenly Antonyms for gradually abruptly suddenly suddently ← Back to the full definition of gradually